Patriots take a hit in NFL Power Rankings after week 1 loss

The New England Patriots’ disappointing 13-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks has seen the team slide down several major NFL power rankings following Week 1.

Coming into the season with significant expectations after last year’s run to the AFC Championship Game, the Patriots were viewed as a team capable of taking another step forward in 2026. Instead, a frustrating offensive performance and three interceptions from Drake Maye have immediately raised some questions.

The NFL’s official power rankings, New England has fallen five places to No. 18 after entering the season at No. 13.

USA Today has also moved the Patriots down, placing them at No. 15, compared with No. 11 entering the season. The publication specifically pointed to Maye’s three-interception performance, describing the expected leap from the young quarterback as having gone in the opposite direction in Week 1.

The Patriots’ biggest drop comes from The Athletic and New York Times have New England at No. 10, down from No. 4, while ESPN ranks the Patriots No. 10, a four-place drop from their preseason position of sixth.

CBS Sports is considerably less optimistic, ranking the Patriots No. 19. Their assessment focused on Maye’s continued struggles against strong defenses, with Seattle once again proving difficult for the quarterback to overcome.

Maye's Week 1 struggles dominate the conversation

Unsurprisingly, Drake Maye is at the centre of much of the discussion surrounding the Patriots.

The 2025 MVP runner-up struggled to find his rhythm against Seattle, throwing three interceptions and finishing the game without a touchdown. His most costly mistake came late in the fourth quarter when Maye threw an interception in the end zone, preventing New England from potentially tying the game and forcing overtime.

The Athletic noted that Maye’s struggles have now extended beyond last season's postseason run. There had been hope in New England that his four-game postseason slide was partly explained by a shoulder injury and difficult weather conditions against quality defenses.

With a full offseason to prepare, however, his performance against Seattle has renewed those concerns.

PFF gave Maye a 50.7 passing grade for the game, while also highlighting the Patriots' problems in the running game. New England averaged a league-worst -0.408 EPA per rush in Week 1.

That combination — inconsistent quarterback play and an ineffective rushing attack — left the Patriots' offense struggling to generate enough points despite the defense keeping the game within reach.

Defense provides a reason for optimism

It wasn't all negative for the Patriots.

The defense continued to show signs of being one of the team's biggest strengths, with the secondary performing well and the pass rush generating pressure.

New free-agent signing Dre'Mont Jones made an immediate impact in his Patriots debut. The veteran edge rusher recorded four quarterback hits, one sack and two tackles, while also providing a solid presence against the run.

PFF also highlighted Jones and second-year edge rusher Gabe Jacas as promising contributors following the opening-week defeat.

However, the defense couldn't quite finish the job. Seattle backup quarterback Drew Lock engineered two fourth-quarter scoring drives, allowing the Seahawks to turn a 10-7 deficit into a 13-10 victory.

A.J. Brown injury adds to Patriots' concerns

The Patriots also left Seattle with a significant injury concern.

Wide receiver A.J. Brown is expected to miss around six weeks after suffering a high-ankle sprain. His absence leaves New England without one of its most important offensive weapons at a time when the passing game is already under scrutiny.

That makes Sunday's upcoming matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers particularly important as the Patriots look to avoid beginning the season 0-2.

Despite the Week 1 disappointment, the power rankings show that there is still considerable variation in how the Patriots are viewed. ESPN, The Athletic and PFF all continue to place New England inside the top 10, while USA Today, the NFL and CBS Sports have them between 15th and 19th.

The message is fairly consistent, though: the Patriots' Week 1 loss has created questions, but one game hasn't erased the expectations surrounding this team.

New England now has an opportunity to provide an immediate response against Pittsburgh.